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Abstract:

One apparatus embodiment includes an electronic assembly, equipped to
sense one or more changes in an environmental condition. The assembly
includes a logic circuit coupled to: one or more environmental sensors,
memory that provides data storage, and a wireless communicator. The logic
circuit is configured to perform time measurement, perform environmental
measurement with the one or more environmental sensors, store
time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and communicate with
particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more
changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless communicator. The
logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that provides power to at
least one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator.

Claims:

1. An electronic assembly, comprising: a wireless communicator; and a
logic circuit coupled to the wireless communicator, wherein the logic
circuit is configured to: communicate via the wireless communicator with
particular other electronic assemblies equipped to sense one or more
changes in an environmental condition; and automatically acquire assembly
identifiers of the particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to
sense one or more changes in an environmental condition.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic assembly further
includes one or more environmental sensors coupled to the logic circuit;
and wherein the logic circuit is further configured to transmit an
assembly identifier for the electronic assembly, equipped to sense one or
more changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless
communicator.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
communicate time-stamped environmental data with the particular other
electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes in an
environmental condition, and to a remote reader device via the wireless
communicator.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
enter a sleep mode after communicating the time-stamped environmental
data to the remote reader device.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
initiate an alarm status when a calculated alarm event occurs based upon
the measured time and measured environmental data or received
environmental data.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
communicate the alarm status to a remote reader device via the wireless
communicator.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is configured to:
receive time-stamped environmental data along with a different assembly
identifier from each of the particular other electronic assemblies via
the wireless communicator; append an assembly group identifier to the
different assembly identifiers; and store the received time-stamped
environmental data in a memory along with the appended different assembly
identifiers.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a protective
cover at least partially surrounding the wireless communicator and the
logic circuit.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein an adhesive graphic label is fitted
over the protective cover.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the assembly includes one or more
light emitting diodes (LEDs) that, when illuminated, are visible from an
exterior of the assembly; and the assembly includes a pushbutton
momentary switch configured to activate the assembly.

11. An environmental sensing and communication system, comprising: a
plurality of electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes
in an environmental condition, each electronic assembly including a logic
circuit coupled to one or more environmental sensors and a wireless
communicator, wherein the logic circuit is encoded with an assembly
identifier and configured to: periodically transmit time-stamped
environmental data via the wireless communicator along with the assembly
identifier; and determine a group to include those electronic assemblies,
equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition, from
which transmissions are received for a period of time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein: a number of the plurality of
electronic assemblies include memory; and the logic circuit of each of
the number of the plurality of electronic assemblies is configured to
store time-stamped environmental data in the memory.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of electronic
assemblies in the group is assigned as a leader for the group.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
store, when assigned as the leader, time-stamped environmental data and
the assembly identifiers received from each electronic assembly of the
group in the memory.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic circuit is configured to
append a group identifier to the assembly identifiers received from each
electronic assembly.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the system includes a reader device,
wherein the reader device is configured to transmit a download request
signal and to wirelessly download data from the group of electronic
assemblies; and the logic circuit is configured to transmit, when
assigned as the leader, the time-stamped environmental data along with
the appended assembly identifiers from the memory to the reader device
via the wireless communicator upon receipt of the download request
signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the system includes more than one
group; each group is located within a different shipping container within
communication range of the reader device; and the reader is configured to
segregate the time-stamped environmental data for each group according to
the appended assembly identifiers.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the system includes a reader device
including: a wireless communicator to download data from the group of
electronic assemblies; and a physical communication port including a
driver to transmit data.

19. A method of environmental sensing and communication, comprising:
collecting environmental data with a group of environmental sensing
assemblies; wirelessly communicating environmental sensing assembly
identifiers and environmental data collected by the environmental sensing
assemblies between the environmental sensing assemblies of the group; and
assigning one of the environmental sensing assemblies of the group as a
leader for the group.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method includes storing the
environmental data, collected by each environmental sensing assembly of
the group, in memory of the leader.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein storing the environmental data in
memory of the leader includes storing the environmental data along with a
corresponding environmental sensing assembly identifier for each
environmental sensing assembly of the group.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein assigning the leader includes
assigning the leader by a method selected from the group including:
randomly assigning one of the environmental sensing assemblies as the
leader; assigning one of the environmental sensing assemblies as the
leader based on which assembly identifier meets one or more particular
criteria with respect to other assembly identifiers; assigning one of the
environmental sensing assemblies as the leader based on which
environmental sensing assembly has been active for the greatest amount
time; and assigning one of the environmental sensing assemblies as the
leader based on which environmental sensing assembly has been active for
the least amount of time.

23. The method of claim 19, including wirelessly communicating the
environmental data from the leader to a reader device.

24. An electronic assembly, comprising: a wireless communicator; a logic
circuit coupled to the wireless communicator, wherein the logic circuit
is configured to communicate with particular other electronic assemblies
equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition via
the wireless communicator; a power source that provides power to at least
one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator; and a port for
physical contact and electrical communication with a remote reader
device, wherein the port is coupled to the power source to provide power
from the remote reader device to the power source.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the electronic assembly further
includes one or more environmental sensors coupled to the logic circuit.

26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the port is coupled to the logic
circuit and configured to provide communication of time stamped
environmental data from the memory to the remote reader device.

Description:

PRIORITY APPLICATION INFORMATION

[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
12/255,295, filed Oct. 21, 2008, the specification of which is
incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to sensing
environmental conditions and communicating sensed information in order to
inform users as to conditions that exist that may affect items that are
in the area of the sensor.

[0003] Producers, distributors, warehousers, and quality personnel, among
others, especially those in charge of perishable, spoilable, or
high-value items that are, for example, moving through a logistics supply
chain, may desire to know the condition of items for which their
operation is accountable. Also, the customer perception of quality may be
of value in some industries and, therefore, the monitoring of products
through the supply chain may be used to indicate such quality to a
customer base.

[0004] Further, some entities may be interested in lowering insurance
premium costs and the monitoring of products through the supply chain may
be one way to reduce such costs. Monitoring the environment of products
as they travel is a way of gaining such efficiencies, increasing
traceability, and/or of providing for the quality and safety of products
which can influence one or more of the above factors, among other
benefits.

[0005] A number of environmental sensing assemblies have been taught, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,495 "Perishable Product Electronic Label
Including Time and Temperature Measurement" and U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,147
"Perishable Product Electronic Label Including Time and Temperature
Measurement", and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/712,075
"Environmental Sensing", all of which are commonly assigned and have at
least one common inventor with the present application. One or more
embodiments of the present disclosure may improve upon these and other
devices, systems, and methods for environmental sensing and
communication, in some instances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of a labeled circuit assembly according to one
or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an environmental sensing
system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a number of environmental
sensing assemblies prior to formation of a group according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating a number of environmental
sensing assemblies after formation of a group according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present disclosure describes a number of device, system, and
method embodiments. For example, some embodiments include an electronic
assembly, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental
condition. In various embodiments, the assembly includes a logic circuit
coupled to: an environmental sensor, memory that provides data storage,
and a wireless communicator.

[0012] The logic circuit can, for example, be configured to perform time
measurement, perform environmental measurement with the environmental
sensor, store time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and/or
communicate with particular other electronic assemblies equipped to sense
one or more changes in an environmental condition (e.g., via the wireless
communicator). The logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that
provides power to at least one of the logic circuit and the wireless
communicator.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the logic circuit can be configured to
communicate time-stamped environmental data with the particular other
electronic assemblies and/or to a remote reader device (e.g., via the
wireless communicator). An electronic assembly (e.g., an environmental
sensing assembly) can sense and/or store environmental data and/or
communicate that data to other assemblies. Accordingly, in various
embodiments, an environmental sensing assembly can receive environmental
data transmitted by another assembly.

[0014] In some embodiments, after an environmental sensing assembly
communicates time-stamped environmental data to a remote reader device, a
logic circuit associated with the assembly can enter a sleep mode. In
sleep mode, the logic circuit can, for example, still be powered at a
reduced setting, but not execute instructions and/or communicate via the
wireless communicator, in order to preserve the life of a power source,
among other benefits.

[0015] As used herein, "particular other" electronic assemblies can
include those electronic assemblies within communication range of the
wireless communicator for a particular time, as will be discussed in more
detail below. In one or more embodiments, the wireless communicator can,
for example, have a communication range greater than 1000 feet. An
example of a suitable wireless communicator can be a radio frequency (RF)
transceiver, such as the CC 1100 available from Texas Instruments, among
other types of wireless communicators.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, an environmental sensing assembly can
have an associated assembly identifier. In some instances, the assembly
identifier can be the same as a serial number associated with the
assembly, although other identifiers can be used and/or assigned. The
logic circuit in an electronic assembly can use the wireless communicator
to transmit and/or receive assembly identifiers. Such embodiments can be
useful to let the logic circuit "know" which other assemblies it is
communicating with. This can be beneficial, for example, in grouping data
from multiple electronic assemblies.

[0017] In some embodiments, a logic circuit can receive time-stamped
environmental data transmitted along with an assembly identifier from a
number of other environmental sensing assemblies (e.g., the particular
other assemblies). In some such embodiments, the logic circuit can append
an assembly group identifier to the assembly identifier and store the
received time-stamped environmental data along with the appended assembly
identifiers and, thereby, associating the data into a group. This can aid
in allowing more robust data analysis based on multiple assemblies.

[0018] For example, an environmental sensing assembly, having identifier
0, could receive data from three other assemblies having identifiers 1,
2, and 3. Assembly 0 could append a group assembly identifier X to the
assembly identifiers and store data along with the appended identifiers,
such as 0X, 1X, 2X, and 3X. Such embodiments can be useful for
determining which assembly is associated with certain stored data and to
which other sensor the data is related.

[0019] Environmental data can include temperature, humidity, physical
orientation, proximity, acceleration, pressure, molecular compounds,
chemical change, shock, vibration, light, as well as other environmental
data and combinations thereof. Accordingly, an environmental sensing
assembly can include one or more sensors for one or more types of
environmental data.

[0020] One method of environmental sensing and communication provides
including a group of environmental sensing assemblies in an environment
for sensing, activating the group, and collecting environmental data with
the group. Information can be wirelessly communicated between two or more
of the environmental sensing assemblies of the group. Such information
can include timing information, environmental sensing assembly
identifiers, as well as environmental data collected by one or more other
environmental sensing assemblies.

[0021] In some embodiments, one of the environmental assemblies can be
assigned as a leader for the group. Environmental data collected by an
environmental sensing assembly can be communicated with and stored in
memory of the leader. In some instances, a corresponding environmental
sensing assembly identifier for an assembly can be communicated with and
stored with the environmental data from the assembly. As described
herein, a group identifier can be appended to the assembly identifiers
for each assembly in the group.

[0022] The leader can be assigned in various manners such as randomly
assigning one assembly as the leader, assigning a leader based on which
assembly identifier meets one or more particular criteria with respect to
other assembly identifiers, and/or assigning a leader based on which
assembly has been active for the greatest and/or least amount of time,
among other suitable selection processes. Examples of particular criteria
with respect to assembly identifiers can include criteria such as an
alphanumerically greatest and/or least identifier, a shortest and/or
longest identifier, and/or other criteria.

[0023] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first
digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining
digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements
or components between different figures may be identified by the use of
similar digits.

[0024] For example, 110 may reference element "10" in FIG. 1, and a
similar element may be referenced as 210 in FIG. 2. As will be
appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments herein can be
added, exchanged, and/or eliminated to provide a number of additional
embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, as will be
appreciated the proportion and the relative scale of the elements
provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the
present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure. The circuit illustrated in FIG. 1
can be associated with an environmental sensing assembly 100. The terms
"environmental sensing assembly" and "electronic assembly" may be used
interchangeably herein. In some instances, an "environmental sensing
assembly" or "electronic assembly" may be referred to as an "assembly"
for sake of brevity.

[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be utilized to provide a
simple to use, low-cost, accurate, disposable, and/or re-usable device(s)
as an element of a monitoring system. Assembly embodiments, for example,
can be a tag, label, or an assembly that is built into a package, among
other suitable embodiments for monitoring environmental conditions.

[0027] One or more embodiments may include a logic circuit 102 such as a
controller, a microprocessor, a micro-controller, an application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like. The logic circuit 102 may be
interfaced with a program memory 104 configured to provide storage of a
set of computer executable instructions in the form of software,
firmware, and/or hardware that at least partially provides functionality.
Thus, the functionality described with respect to various software-based
embodiments is also applicable to hardware-based embodiments, and
conversely.

[0028] The interfaced program memory 104 and/or data memory 106 may be
implemented as one of, or a combination of, volatile and non-volatile
memory, such as random access memory ("RAM"), EEPROM, Flash memory, or
the like. It is also within the purview of the present disclosure that
the memory may be included in the logic circuit 102 and/or program and
data memory may be provided together in a single memory source or may be
provided together on multiple sources.

[0029] In some embodiments, the logic circuit 102 can be coupled to data
memory 106. In one or more embodiments, data memory 106 can store data
that is accumulated by the assembly 100, such as time and/or
environmental condition data or a combination thereof (e.g., time-stamped
environmental data). In some embodiments, this information can be
provided to a database via a reader device (e.g., a remote reader device)
that is not contained within the assembly 100 (e.g., a database on a
server with a web portal for access by a number of clients).

[0030] Embodiments of the present disclosure can utilize memory
compression techniques that allow a device to store more information. For
example, a number of methods for memory compression associated with
environmental sensing assemblies are described in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/712,075, entitled "Environmental Sensing," to Thomas Jensen,
et al. Such compression techniques are not described in more detail
herein so as not to obscure embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] In various embodiments, the logic circuit 102 can be coupled to one
or more environmental sensors 108. In some embodiments, executable
instructions can be provided that are executable by a logic circuit 102
to take an environmental measurement at a predetermined time interval. In
various embodiments, executable instructions can be provided that are
executable by the logic circuit 102 to take an average of a number of
such environmental measurements. These averages can, for example, be
calculated through use of a number of sets of environmental measurements.
Such embodiments can be useful to help reduce power consumption by
operation of one or more sensors and/or to help reduce consumption of
available storage space in memory, among other benefits.

[0032] The logic circuit 102 can be coupled to a clock 110. It is also
within the purview of the present disclosure that the clock 110 may be
included in the logic circuit 102. The clock 110 can be used by the logic
circuit to perform time measurement, among other functions.

[0033] The logic circuit 102 can be coupled to a wireless communicator
112. The wireless communicator 112 can include an infrared and/or radio
frequency modulation circuit, in some embodiments.

[0034] The wireless communicator 112 can be coupled to an antenna 114.
Some purposes of the hardware described herein, for example, can be to
provide mechanisms for sensing environmental variables, performing
storage of measured data, performing processing of the measured data
(e.g., under embedded software control), communicating environmental
data, providing display indications, and/or providing download and/or
offload capability of processed data.

[0035] The logic circuit 102 can be coupled to one or more physical
contact points 116. Physical contact points 116 can be suitable for
contacting with an external probe device, for example a reader device,
and can be located within the assembly or can be positioned for contact
with or without penetration into the assembly, in various embodiments.

[0036] Physical contact points 116 can be used for electrical
communication between the assembly 100 and another device, such as a
reader device. In one or more embodiments, one or more of the contact
points 116 can be coupled to power source 122 to provide power to the
power source 122 from, for example, a reader device. Such embodiments can
be useful in recharging and/or supplementing the power source 122.

[0037] The logic circuit 102 can be coupled to one or more indicators 118.
For example, the indicators 118 can, in some embodiments, include a
number of indicating Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that can be visible
from an exterior of the assembly 100.

[0038] Such indicators 118 can, for example, be arranged to indicate an
upper, a middle, and a lower light as indicators 118. In such a
configuration, the upper indicator can serve as an over limit status
indicator, the lower indicator as an under limit status indicator, and
the center indicator can serve as an OK status indicator. As discussed
herein, other types of display indicators 118 can be used in various
embodiments and the indicators can be any suitable indicating mechanism.

[0039] Various embodiments can utilize a chemical change to provide a
portion of or the entire indicator 118 functionality of the assembly 100.
For example, an electro-chemical component can be used to provide at
least some indicator 118 functionality, in some embodiments.

[0040] The logic circuit 102 can be configured to initiate an alarm status
when a calculated alarm event occurs based upon measured time and
environmental data and/or received environmental data (e.g., from other
environmental sensing assemblies). The alarm status, for example, can be
signaled by indicators 118 (e.g., by illuminating, flashing, other
otherwise operating LEDs, among other processes). A calculated alarm
event can occur, for example, when environmental data exceeds a
particular range (e.g., when a temperature rises above a certain
threshold), among other alert events.

[0041] In some embodiments, an alarm status can be transmitted by wireless
communicator 112 and/or by physical contact points 116 to another
environmental sensing assembly and/or to a reader device. Whether
transmitted by wireless communicator 112, physical contact points 116, or
indicated by indicators 118, an alarm status can be beneficial in
alerting users to particular environmental conditions that may require
attention.

[0042] The logic circuit 102 can be coupled to an activation mechanism
120. Activation mechanism 120 can be provided by a number of possible
circuits and constructions, including ones that include a breakaway tab
switch, a pull-tab switch, an infrared switch, a magnetic switch, an
electromagnetic switch, a radio frequency resonant switch, or a
pushbutton momentary switch, among other mechanism types. For example,
with respect to a pushbutton momentary switch or a pull-tab switch,
activation can be accomplished by a user physically activating the
circuit. In some embodiments, a transmitting device (e.g., wireless
communicator 112) can be used to remotely accomplish the activation
(e.g., by one or more radio frequency (RF) signals).

[0043] As stated above, the environmental sensing assembly 100 can include
a power source 122 coupled to a number of components of the assembly 100,
such as the logic circuit 102, environmental sensor 108, wireless
communicator 112, physical contact points 116, and indicators 118, among
others. In some embodiments, the power source 122 can be a coin-cell type
power source. In one or more embodiments, the power source 122 can be a
rechargeable battery power source.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a top view of a labeled circuit assembly according to one
or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one or more
embodiments, the environmental sensing assembly 200 can include a
protective cover 230 at least partially surrounding the assembly (e.g.,
including the environmental sensor, memory, wireless communicator, logic
circuit, and power source, among other components). In various
embodiments, the pouch 234 can be as small as or smaller than about 8.0
centimeters by 5.5 centimeters by 0.2 centimeters.

[0045] In some embodiments, the cover 230 can be made larger such that it
can be folded to cover both the front and the back of the environmental
sensing assembly 200. In various embodiments, an area of the cover 230
can be printed with legend information (e.g., text and/or symbols) that
identifies what the one or more indicators 218 signify.

[0046] In some embodiments, a graphic label 232 can be constructed (e.g.,
from plastic and/or paper film, etc.). The label 232 can be fabricated
from any suitable material including translucent or opaque materials and
can be provided as a clear or semi-clear material with overprinting
thereon, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the graphic label 232
can include printed features on its surface.

[0047] Some embodiments utilize a transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque
pouch 234 that forms an outer layer over the environmental sensing
assembly 200 (e.g., including the protective cover 230 and graphic label
232 if so equipped). The pouch 234 can be of any suitable material and
can be sealed permanently or resealably in any suitable manner.

[0048] For instance the pouch 234 can be heat-sealed, glued, or have a
physical sealing structure formed from the pouch material. Examples, of
such materials include, but are not limited to materials including
plastics, vinyls, polystyrenes, and other such materials. For instance,
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one suitable plastic material for use
with food.

[0049] Such pouches 234 can be designed to meet industry standards, such
as food safety standards. As defined herein a food safety standard can be
any standard created by an entity (e.g., the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration) to regulate usage with food. In this way, if the pouch
234 is sealed, the pouch 234 may be approved for use (e.g., as safe for
placement adjacent to food) while the contents do not have to be
approved.

[0050] In some embodiments, the exterior of the pouch can meet such a
requirement, while the interior may or may not meet a requirement. This
case can save significant time and money since the manufacturer does not
have to gain approval of the assembly 200 to be placed within the pouch
234, in some instances, among other benefits.

[0051] In embodiments that utilize one or more illuminating indicators
218, such as LEDs, the indicators can illuminate printed lenses, for
example, from behind or from the side. The legend information associated
with the indicators (e.g., "over temp," "OK," "under temp" as illustrated
in FIG. 2), can be modified to suit programmed measurement and/or alert
parameters.

[0052] Embodiments can also include other graphic elements such as a logo,
target product identification area, an activation break point graphic,
and/or a temperature limit graphic, among others. The logo and target
product identification area, as well as the temperature limit graphic can
be used, for example, to supply a package, tag, or label with a unique
graphic that is matched to the parameters that are programmed into a
logic circuit's program memory and/or data memory.

[0053] In various embodiments, the tag or label device may also be
inserted into a packaging material. Various packaging and manufacturing
methods are described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/712,075, entitled "Environmental Sensing," by Thomas Jensen, et al.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an environmental sensing
system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
The system 340 can include a number of electronic assemblies (e.g.,
environmental sensing assemblies). In some instances, the system 340 can
include a number of groups of environmental sensing assemblies. For
example, group 350-1 includes assemblies 300-11, 300-21, . . . 300-N1,
and 300-L1; group 350-2 includes assemblies 300-12, 300-22, . . . ,
300-N2, and 300-L2; and group 350-M includes assemblies 300-1M, 300-2M, .
. . , 300-NM.

[0055] As used herein, the designators "N" and "M," particularly with
respect to reference numerals in the drawings, indicate that a number of
the particular feature so designated can be included with one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, 300-N1 indicates that
a number of environmental sensing assemblies can be included in the
group. As used herein the designator "L" indicates that the assembly as
been assigned as a leader for the group to which it belongs.

[0056] As discussed above, the environmental sensing assemblies can
include a logic circuit coupled to an environmental sensor and a wireless
communicator. The logic circuit can be encoded with an assembly
identifier, as described herein, and can be configured to measure time
and/or environmental data, periodically transmit time-stamped
environmental data via the wireless communicator along with the assembly
identifier, and determine a group to include those electronic assemblies
from which transmissions are received during a period of time.

[0057] In some embodiments, the period of time can be specified and hard
coded into one or more environmental sensing assemblies. In various
embodiments, the period of time can be factory and/or user programmable.

[0058] One of the electronic assemblies in a group can be assigned as a
leader for the group. As illustrated in FIG. 3, assembly 300-L1 has been
assigned as the leader for group 350-1 and assembly 300-L2 has been
assigned as the leader of group 350-2. Embodiments are not limited to
groups having an assigned leader, as illustrated by group 350-M, which
does not have an assigned leader.

[0059] A logic circuit of an environmental sensing assembly can be
configured to store time-stamped environmental data in memory. When
assigned as the leader of a group, the logic circuit of an environmental
sensing assembly can store time-stamped environmental data along with
assembly identifiers received from one or more of the other electronic
assemblies of the group. In some embodiments, the leader can append a
group identifier to the received assembly identifiers to indicate both a
group and an assembly that corresponds to stored and/or transmitted
environmental data.

[0060] The leader (e.g., leader 300-L2) can communicate environmental data
and/or assembly/group identifiers for one or more assemblies in the group
(e.g., assemblies 300-12, 300-22, . . . 300-N2, and 300-L2) to a remote
reader device 360. For groups that do not have an assigned leader (e.g.,
group 350-M), one or more environmental sensing assemblies of the group
(e.g., assemblies 300-1M, 300-2M, . . . , 300-NM) can communicate
time-stamped environmental data and assembly identifiers to the remote
reader device 360.

[0061] The system 340 can also include one or more remote reader devices
360. The remote reader device 360 can include a logic circuit 302-R,
program and/or data memory 304/306-R, a wireless communicator 312-R, and
a physical contact point (e.g., a physical contact port) 316-R. As used
herein the designator "R" indicates a component associated with the
remote reader device 360.

[0062] A remote reader device 360 can include a microcontroller as the
logic circuit 302-R. The microcontroller can include internal memory
storing executable instructions, and/or interface with program and/or
data memory 304/306-R. Instructions can be executed to transmit a
download request signal (e.g., to one or more environmental sensing
assemblies). In response, an environmental sensing assembly, or a leader
of a group of environmental sensing assemblies, can transmit time-stamped
environmental data along with assembly identifiers to the remote reader
device 360. In some instances, the assembly identifiers can be appended
assembly identifiers, particularly when being transmitted by a leader of
a group.

[0063] The remote reader device 360 can store the received data and
identifiers in its internal memory 304/306-R. In some instances, the
time-stamped environmental data can be segregated for each group
according to the appended assembly identifiers.

[0064] In some embodiments, the remote reader device 360 can be configured
to communicate data with an environmental sensing assembly and/or a
computing device 370 using one or more of the wireless communicator 312-R
and/or the physical contact point (e.g., physical communication port)
316-R. For example, the physical communication port 316-R can be a USB
port with an associated driver, among other types of communications
linking mechanisms.

[0065] The remote reader device 360 can be configured to wirelessly
download data from one or more assemblies and/or groups of electronic
assemblies via the wireless communicator 312-R. For example, the remote
reader device 360 can communicate with a leader to download data for the
entire group and/or communicate with each assembly in the group
individually. Some wireless embodiments of an assembly and reader can be
usable at short range and/or at long range. For example, some such
embodiments can utilize portable device communication formats (e.g., GSM,
ANSI, etc.) to communication information to and/or from the assembly.

[0066] These communication mechanisms can be based upon established
standards, such as IEEE 802.11, or based upon other radio communication
technologies. The wireless mechanisms associated with the environmental
sensing assembly may also participate in a networked (e.g., mesh network)
or similar interface scheme to communicate with the remote reader device.
These types of networks may fall within IEEE 802.15.4 standards
development, 13 MHz, or UHF forms of Radio-Frequency Identification
(RFID), among others.

[0067] A physical contact point 316-R associated with a remote reader
device 360 can also receive communications (e.g., time-stamped
environmental data) from an environmental sensing assembly (e.g.,
assembly 300-1M). The communication functionality described herein, with
the exception of specific wireless and/or physical capabilities (e.g.,
the wireless communicator can communicate wirelessly, while the physical
contact point can allow for communication via physical contact), can
generally be accomplished via either or both of the wireless communicator
and/or physical contact points and should not be limited to either.

[0068] For example, the remote reader device 360 can be brought into
physical contact with an environmental sensing assembly (e.g., assembly
300-IM) via the physical contact point 316-R to communicate with the
same. Some embodiments can be useful to allow communications with an
assembly that does not include wireless capabilities (e.g., embodiments
of the present disclosure can be "backward compatible), or to communicate
with assemblies that have lost wireless capability (e.g., due to
malfunction, a dead power source, etc.).

[0069] Furthermore, the logic circuit (e.g., logic circuit 102 illustrated
in FIG. 1) of an environmental sensing assembly (e.g., assembly 300-1M)
can be configured to communicate an alarm status, as described herein, to
a remote reader device 360 via the respective wireless communicators
(e.g., wireless communicator 312 associated with the remote reader device
and a wireless communicator associated with the assembly).

[0070] In one or more embodiments, the wireless communicator 302-R of the
remote reader device 360 and the wireless communicators of the
environmental sensing assemblies (e.g., assembly 300-1M) can be
configured to provide a seamless link layer protocol of communication.
The remote reader device 360 and the logic circuit of the environmental
sensing assemblies can include communication algorithms to operate their
respective wireless communicators using forward error correction,
re-transmission capability, channel hopping based on clear channel
assessment, and/or spread spectrum transmission.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, spread spectrum transmission can
include frequency-hopping spread spectrum and/or direct-sequence spread
spectrum. Frequency-hopping spread spectrum can include switching among
multiple frequency channels such that a number of assemblies communicate
on a particular channel at a particular time, and then on another channel
at another time. Direct-sequence spread spectrum can allow sharing of a
single channel among multiple different assemblies communicating at
substantially the same time.

[0072] In some embodiments, communication algorithms can include the use
of channel hopping based on clear channel assessment. That is, a number
of assemblies can communicate on a particular channel at a particular
time, and then switch to another channel when the other channel does is
not communicating other traffic. The use of these, and other suitable
communication algorithms, can aid in establishing and/or maintaining
substantially interference-free communications, among other benefits.

[0073] Wireless communication links can be in any suitable format. For
example, an electro-magnetic (EM) communicator can be employed in a
remote reader device 360 to form a communication link to send a pulse or
series of pulses to an EM receiver via an antenna (e.g., a coil type
antenna) thereby utilizing an EM channel.

[0074] The transmitting and/or receiving functionality of a communicator
can be provided by one or more transmitters, receivers, and/or
transceivers. Although described generally as EM and/or RF transmitters
and/or receivers, it is to be understood that any suitable wireless
and/or wired communication mechanisms can be utilized in various
embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0075] An EM channel can operate at close range and can be used to
initiate an upload of data, for example, telling the environmental
sensing assembly to begin transmitting data via a wireless communicator
and/or antenna to a remote reader's wireless communicator 312-R (e.g.,
via its antenna). In such embodiments, the remote reader device can
receive and process the data using its logic circuit 302-R. Assemblies
can also be designed to transmit processed data to a remote reader device
360 via a wireless hub, in some embodiments.

[0076] The system 340 can include one or more computing devices 370. The
computing device 370 can include a logic circuit 302-C, program and/or
data memory 304/306-C, a wireless communicator 312-C, and a physical
contact point (e.g., a physical communication port) 316-C. As used
herein, the designator "C" indicates a component associated with the
computing device 370.

[0077] The computing device 370 can be remote to the remote reader device
360 and/or to a number of environmental sensing assemblies. The computing
device 370 can include a physical communication port that corresponds to
a physical communication port of the remote reader device. In one or more
embodiments, the computing device 370 can include a driver to download
data from the remote reader device 360.

[0078] In one or more embodiments, the computing device 370 can be a
personal computer, a laptop computer, a server, and/or a dedicated
database computer, among other computing devices. The computing device
370 can include a processor (e.g., logic circuit 302-C), memory (e.g.,
program and/or data memory 304/306-C), and instructions stored in the
memory and executable by the processor to analyze the data from the
remote reader device 360.

[0079] As remote reader devices gather the data from environmental sensing
assemblies, the readers, in turn, can communicate the data and/or files
to computing devices (e.g., databases and/or other storage locations). In
some embodiments, this can be accomplished via another type of data
device. For example, the system 340 can include a standalone gateway,
hub, router, and/or other type of computing device, such as a personal
computer, portable computing device, or server type computing device.

[0080] These devices can communicate with remote reader devices by way of
wired and/or wireless interfaces, including Internet and/or other
connection types. Through these connections, environmental data and/or
assembly identifiers can be forwarded to one or more computing devices
for storage and/or analysis, among other functions.

[0081] In such embodiments, a gateway or hub device can be situated, for
example, in a warehouse, on a pier, or in an industrial area and perform
its function without utilizing additional local information technology
infrastructure. This can represent added value, for example, for users
who do not wish to upgrade their existing computer and IT equipment.

[0082] Embodiments including computing devices 370 and remote reader
devices 360 can be useful for providing a snapshot of environmental data
sensed by a number of environmental sensing assemblies to a shipping
technician operating a remote reader device 360, for example. The
computing device 370 can be useful for performing a more in-depth
analysis of the environmental data (e.g., by food scientists).
Embodiments are not limited to these examples.

[0083] One or more embodiments including multiple groups can be useful in
helping to segregate sensed environmental data into groups. For example,
each group may represent environmental sensing assemblies that have gone
through different supply chains, possibly exposed to different
environmental conditions. According to one or more embodiments of the
present disclosure, one, or a few, remote reader devices 360 can be used
to collect environmental data from the groups. The groups, including
environmental sensing assembly identifiers, possibly including assembly
identifiers appended with a group identifier, can be beneficial in
segregating data by group, for example, so that a user can associate
various indicated alerts, or other environmental data, with an
appropriate group (e.g., assemblies in the same transport vehicle or
container).

[0084] Using one, or few, remote reader devices to collect environmental
data from a number of groups of environmental sensing assemblies can be
beneficial in helping to reduce work time and to control costs for
shipping/receiving entities. For example, one remote reader device could
be used to wirelessly gather environmental data from a number of groups
of environmental sensing assemblies in range at one time. Such efficiency
can reduce person-hours as well as costs associated with using multiple
readers and/or using a single reader separately for each group.

[0085] FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a number of environmental
sensing assemblies prior to formation of a group according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure. An illustration of the range of a
wireless communicator associated with an assembly 400 in environment
480-2 is illustrated by radius 490. Accordingly, circumferential area 495
illustrates an area in which assembly 400 can communicate with other
devices such as other environmental sensing assemblies, remote reader
devices, etc. In the example scenario illustrated in FIG. 4A, each
environmental sensing assembly 400 in each environment 480-1, 480-2, . .
. , 480-T is within range of assembly 400.

[0086] Four environmental sensing assemblies 400 are illustrated in each
of a number of environments for sensing (e.g., trucks) 480-1, 480-2, . .
. , 480-T. The scenario illustrated in FIG. 4A can represent a loading
area (e.g., dock, freighter, etc.) with a number of environments (e.g.,
trucks, shipping containers, crates, etc.) 480-1, 480-2, . . . , 480-T.
As goods (e.g., environmentally sensitive products) are loaded into the
environments 480-1, 480-2, . . . , 480-T, a number of environmental
sensing assemblies 400 can be activated. After activation, the assemblies
400 can begin sensing and storing environmental data, as well as
communicating with other assemblies. For example, the assemblies 400 can
transmit an assembly identifier and/or environmental data.

[0087] As described herein, a logic circuit associated with an assembly
400 can determine a group to include those electronic assemblies 400 from
which transmissions are received for a period of time. In some
embodiments, the period of time may be greater than two hours, although
embodiments are not limited to a particular period of time. The period of
time can, for example, begin running with activation of one or more
environmental sensing assemblies 400.

[0088] For example, one or more assemblies 400 to be loaded into one or
more environments for sensing (e.g., along with environmentally sensitive
products) and activated. The period of time can allow for the one or more
environments to disperse into various shipping routes so that groups do
not form between assemblies associated with different shipping routes,
for example. An example of such is illustrated in FIG. 4B.

[0089] As described herein, the period of time can be user programmable.
Such embodiments can be useful to allow different users to set different
periods according to their shipping needs. For example, a particular user
may have certain periods of time between loading and shipping associated
with their industry.

[0090] Accordingly, the particular user may wish to program the certain
period of time into their assemblies to allow sufficient delay for group
formation. For example, if the manufacturing facility or the user knows
that it typically takes four hours to leave a loading dock after product
has been loaded, they may wish to program a period of time that is four
hours or longer into the appropriate assemblies.

[0091] Likewise, a particular user may have different load/ship times
during different shipping seasons (e.g., holiday rush). It is appreciated
other scenarios and benefits that can be had by use of programmable
periods of time for group formation.

[0092] In some embodiments, one or more logic circuits associated with
environmental sensing assemblies can detect a group based on when it is
receiving transmissions from a particular number, greater than a
particular number, or less than a particular number of other assemblies.
For example, a particular user may use a certain number of environmental
sensing assemblies (e.g., four) with each environment (e.g., shipment),
and may program their assemblies to form a group when the assemblies are
receiving transmissions from the certain number (e.g., four) of other
assemblies. Alternatively, the assemblies can be programmed such that
they form a group when receiving transmissions from less than five other
assemblies (e.g., an assembly may receive transmissions from a larger
number of assemblies while in a shipping warehouse, but after departure
may only receive transmissions from those assemblies within the same
shipping container).

[0093] In one or more embodiments, a group can be defined based on a
combination of an elapsed period of time and a particular number of
assemblies from which transmissions are received. For example, a user
could program a typical ship/load time of two hours as the period of
time.

[0094] The user could also program "less than five" as a condition for
group formation (e.g., if the user typically uses four assemblies per
shipment). Accordingly, a group of environmental sensing assemblies can
be formed at least two hours after activation (e.g., at loading), when
the assemblies are receiving transmissions from fewer than five other
assemblies. Embodiments are not limited to the specific examples given
herein.

[0095] In some embodiments, once a group of environmental sensing
assemblies has been formed, the assemblies contained therein will not
accept data transmitted from assemblies that are not in the group. Such
embodiments can be useful in preventing data corruption for the group.
For example, such embodiments can help prevent a group from recording
environmental data transmitted by assemblies that are not part of the
group, but come within transmission range of the group at some point
during shipment (e.g., trucks at a truck stop or in a convoy).

[0096] FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating a number of environmental
sensing assemblies after formation of a group according to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure. Environment 480-2 from FIG. 4A is
illustrated out of range 490 of other environments containing assemblies
400. FIG. 4B can reflect a status of environment 480-2 after the period
of time has elapsed.

[0097] Accordingly, environmental sensing assembly 400-L has been assigned
leader of group 450. Group 450 has been determined to include those
assemblies 400 from which transmissions are received for the period of
time (e.g., received by assembly 400-L). As will be appreciated, the
group 450 can include those assemblies 400 that are within range 490 of a
particular other assembly, e.g., assembly 400-L. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 4B, the assemblies 400 of the group 450 are located
within a same environment 480-2 (e.g., a same shipping container).

[0098] A remote reader device (e.g., remote reader device 360 illustrated
in FIG. 3) can download data from the group (e.g., from the leader 400-L,
which can receive, store, and/or transmit environmental data for each
assembly 400 in the group 450) while the environment 480-2 (e.g.,
shipping container) remains sealed. As described herein, such data can be
communicated wirelessly (e.g., using one or more wireless communicators).

[0099] Such embodiments can be useful for making a determination of
whether to accept a particular shipment. For example, a shipping
technician can use a remote reader device to download environmental data
from a group leader 400-L.

[0100] Such data can indicate whether the environment 480-2 has been
preserved according to a specification for the environmentally sensitive
products contained within the environment. The ability to make such a
determination without contacting or breaking a seal of an environment
(e.g., shipping container) can reduce liability for shipments of spoiled
goods, for example. A copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/255,322, having at least one inventor in common,
entitled "Environmental Data Collection," having attorney docket number
710.0140001 describes a number of methods of displaying such
environmental data on a remote reader device such that an individual
(e.g., a shipping technician) can quickly make a determination as to the
quality of a shipment of environmentally sensitive products.

[0101] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described
herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any
arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted
for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover
adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the disclosure. It is
to be understood that the above description has been made in an
illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one.

[0102] Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not
specifically described herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various
embodiments of the disclosure includes various other applications in
which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of
various embodiments of the disclosure should be determined with reference
to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which
such claims are entitled.

[0103] Additionally, in reading this disclosure and claims, it should be
noted that the indefinite article "a" or "an", as it is used herein, is
not intended to limit the number of elements to one. Accordingly, the
terms "a" and "an" should be viewed as meaning one or more unless such
limitation is expressly stated or such meaning would be illogical based
upon the arrangement of elements formed by such meaning. Further, the
term "a number of" should be interpreted as meaning one or more.

[0104] In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped
together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the
disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as
reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the disclosure require
more features than are expressly recited in each claim.

[0105] Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter
may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus,
the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed
Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate
embodiment.